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Canada scales support to PAHO in COVID-19 response in the Caribbean

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#Canada, April 2, 2021 – The Government of Canada announced it would contribute CAN$1,200,000 (approximately USD$950,000) to support the efforts of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) against COVID-19 in six Caribbean countries.

Several countries in the Caribbean are reporting a rise in COVID-related deaths – including a doubling of COVID-19 deaths in some islands. Many countries have begun. or will soon begin, rolling out vaccines to protect their populations.

The donation by the Canadian government will be used to acquire essential personal protection equipment, laboratory and medical equipment, as well as supplies to be used by health care workers and hospitals in the Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, as part of PAHO’s technical cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. It will also help strengthen communication efforts around public health risks, continued promotion of protective measures and community engagement.

“The pandemic is putting health care workers and systems of the countries in the Caribbean under great strain, which is why we are grateful to the Government of Canada for supporting COVID-19 treatment for countries in the Caribbean that are struggling due to the pandemic. Their contribution will help save lives and shows how we can all join forces in solidarity to defeat this virus,” said PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne.

This contribution is part of a 5-year subregional program between PAHO and Canada, which aims to reduce the heath consequence of emergencies and disasters in the Caribbean, through better preparedness and a more resilient health sector. It builds on the longstanding relationship between the organization and the Canadian government to strengthen health emergency risk management in the Region of the Americas. 

For over 30 years, Government of Canada has supported PAHO’s efforts to improve emergency preparedness, mitigation and response across Latin America and the Caribbean region. It also played a key role in the establishment of the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Framework adopted by CARICOM Member States, together with PAHO. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has donated over USD$8 million to support PAHO’s technical cooperation to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in the Americas.

Canada’s Acting Senior Director for the Caribbean Regional Development Program, Ms. Jennifer Heys, said: “Even one year later, COVID-19 continues to challenge health systems across the Caribbean, and we continue to see the stark health and socioeconomic impacts this crisis is having on the Caribbean people. Canada is proud to partner with PAHO once again to provide additional much-needed medical equipment, supplies, and training to support the Caribbean countries that are facing the greatest health sector crisis from COVID-19.”

In the spirit of continuous collaboration and Pan American solidarity, the Canadian government and PAHO have been in conversations to keep addressing critical needs of Latin American and Caribbean countries to sustain the fight against COVID-19. As vaccine campaigns begin in many countries, there are still many challenges ahead which are best addressed collectively.

PAHO is the specialized health agency in the Americas and the Regional Office of WHO providing critical leadership, coordination and assistance to fight the spread of COVID-19, save lives, and protect the most vulnerable peoples in all 52 countries and territories of the Americas.


Caption:  Government of Canada contributes an additional CAN$1.2 million to PAHO aimed at providing essential equipment and supplies in the Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Caribbean News

Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC) signs MoU to collaborate on the development of sustainable ocean renewable energy with Global OTEC

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Consultant Manager Bloom Clean Technology & Climate Tech Center of Excellence - Mr. Damien Prescod / Chief Executive Officer of Global OTEC Mr. Dan Grech at UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, on June 10th

10th June 2025, Nice, France — The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) held this month in Nice, France, was the stage for an important advancement for marine renewable energy in Barbados. In the margins of the event, the Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC), through its Bloom Clean Technology and Climate Tech Center of Excellence, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Global OTEC, a climate technology company specialised in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). This partnership supports the industrial development targets with regards to sustainable clean energy production for energy security at the Corporation’s Industrial Estates and “energy” as an export commodity.

The landmark collaboration reaffirms BIDC’s commitment to innovative around clean technology solutions from the Blue Economy of Barbados. Barbados has set ambitious goals to achieve diversification of its energy mix and a reduction on the reliance on heavy fuels imported into the island for energy production. Through collaborations such as this, it is without doubt that the island’s target of becoming a carbon neutral state by 2030 will become a reality and OTEC can play a vital role in this plan not only in Barbados but also neighbouring Caribbean territories.

Through the MoU, both parties will collaborate on technical assessments, stakeholder engagement, and the evaluation of suitable locations for the technology implementation. OTEC can change the island’s industrial development and clean technology landscape, bringing sustainable climate smart baseload power 24/7 to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), being a viable solution to the current diesel generators that provide electricity to over 282,000 Barbadians. Using the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep water to provide continuous electricity, OTEC is well suited for the country given the shelf on its eastern coast.

“Small Island Developing States need to innovate in their industrial development thinking and their approach with regards to their energy security and sovereignty, manufacturing and processing, technical capacity development, scientific knowledge acquisition and technology transfer for future focused careers and sustainable economic growth. The volatility of global energy markets due to geo-political conflict and logistical challenges leave the economies of SIDS vulnerable, equally when we consider climate change, it’s clear that the business as usual will no longer be adequate for industrial and sustainable development in the global South, especially in the context of the blue economy. Greening our industrial estates through innovative technology will remain a key strategic objective at the Corporation, especially if the technology under consideration can positively impact of manufacturing and commodity export portfolio”, states BIDC Chief Executive Officer Mr. Mark Hill.

The MoU follows a growing interest in ocean-based climate solutions among SIDS, which face increasing pressure to enhance energy security and reduce carbon emissions. Global OTEC’s modular approach to the technology is designed to integrate with island grids, offering a sustainable alternative to diesel generation and can provide energy redundancy to the grid after severe weather impacts from tropical storms. BIDC’s green hydrogen targets can also be assisted by Global OTEC’s technological solution.

Global OTEC is also leading the EU-funded project PLOTEC, which built and will test a floating storm-resistant structure for OTEC in weather-prone regions, such as the Caribbean. The advancements in design and materials will make ocean energy more resilient to tropical storms and severe climate conditions, leaving countries like Barbados less vulnerable to electricity outages, particularly when needed the most.

Barbados has previously expressed interest in OTEC, as last year Global OTEC presented its projects in a roundtable at the Export Barbados (BIDC) headquarters. “Barbados continues to lead by example in the global blue economy. This MoU builds on our longstanding engagement with the country and signals our commitment to making Barbados the launchpad for a Caribbean cluster of ocean thermal projects. We can unlock clean, reliable power from the ocean, and Barbados is showing the region how it can be a lighthouse for the region”, emphasises Global OTEC Founder and CEO Dan Grech.

OTEC: a great fit for the Caribbean

The Caribbean is facing an energy crisis, commonly referred to as a “fuel trap”. To escape this trap, the region needs renewable energy technologies that take into account its unique characteristics, such as limited land space and vulnerability to tropical storms. In addition, there is an urgent need to reduce electricity prices, which are currently around USD 0.25 per kWh on average, more than double the average price in the United States. In some Caribbean countries, the prices can go up to over USD 0.40 per kWh.

As these countries rely heavily on fossil fuels, with more than 90% of their electricity supply coming from this source, the consequent high and fluctuating costs affect competitiveness, and productivity and perpetuate poverty. OTEC can help the Caribbean overcome its energy challenges, harnessing the power of the ocean, the islands’ main natural resource, to deliver clean and reliable power while reducing diesel costs by up to 50%.

About Global OTEC

Global OTEC is a UK-based company set up to accelerate the commercialization of a floating OTEC technology to develop zero-carbon, baseload, clean energy sources that achieve maximum impact in empowering SIDS, Least Developing Countries (LDCs) and Coastal Nations with energy security whilst helping the Earth reduce greenhouse gas emissions and eventually eliminate total dependence on fossil fuel.

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Bahamas News

SOILCARE PHASE II ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS HELD AS BAHAMAS JOINS A COALITION OF COUNTRIES COMMITTED TO RESTORING LANDSCAPES AND SECURING A RESILIENT AGRICULTURAL FUTURE

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ST. GEORGE’S GRENADA – The Bahamas is joining a coalition of Caribbean Small Island Developing States, that committed to restoring landscapes and securing a resilient agricultural future, by tackling land degradation and drought. The Bahamas is one of six new countries scheduled to benefit from the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) multi-country soil management initiative for Integrated Landscape Restoration and climate-resilient food systems (SOILCARE), Phase II, implemented by the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM).

SOILCARE Phase I has been helping adopt policies, measures and best practices and support review of legal and institutional frameworks to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality LDN and Climate Resilience.

As PISLM prepares to launch Phase II of its flagship regional project, adding six new countries, two consultation sessions were completed on 3rd and 4th June by PISLM’s Sustainable Land Management Specialist Dr. Ronen Francis.

Project updates were present to the Permanent Secretary responsible for UNCCD IN the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. David Davis, Director of Agriculture – Dr Jason Sands and Danielle Hanek- Director of Forestry Unit of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Bahamas.

This project will seek to assist the country in upgrading its National Soil Laboratories through provision of modern equipment, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training of technicians. It will also help the Bahamas, to develop Digital Soil Maps, develop their national drought risk plans, including improved drought management, Cat Island. It will also support a youth agri-business programme that will foster youth-led innovation and align with the CARICOM 25×25 vision.

This project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Allocated funding is$17.9 million USD and $26.5 million USD in co-financing, by regional Governments, including the Bahamas.

Photo Caption:

Photo 1 Permanent Secretary responsible for UNCCD in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. David Davis, Director of Agriculture – Dr Jason Sands Daniell, Ms. Danielle Hanek- Director of Forestry Unit of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Bahamas and Dr. Ronen Francis-PISLM.

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Bahamas News

Bahamas Signs Major Agreements at Brazil–Caribbean Summit to Boost Food Security, Climate Resilience, and Regional Development

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Brasília, Brazil – Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis has announced the signing of a landmark cooperation agreement with Brazil and the country’s entry into the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, following his participation in the Brazil–Caribbean Summit held in Brasília on June 14. The summit brought together leaders from CARICOM, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and key regional bodies to address pressing development challenges and renew economic and diplomatic ties with South America’s largest economy.

In a statement posted to Facebook on Saturday, Prime Minister Davis highlighted the significance of these developments for the Bahamian people: “We signed a key agreement with Brazil to work together on food security, education, disaster management, and climate resilience. The Bahamas also joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty — unlocking new resources to fight poverty and tackle inequality.”

The Brazil–Caribbean Summit, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, marks a revitalization of Brazil’s engagement with the Caribbean after years of declining trade and limited collaboration. Trade between Brazil and the Caribbean region has dropped from $6 billion in 2010 to $4 billion in 2024, with most economic activity concentrated in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic. This summit aimed to reverse that trend by fostering stronger cooperation on sustainable development goals, energy transitions, and disaster preparedness.

A key communique issued at the close of the summit underscored the joint commitment of participating nations to clean and inclusive energy transitions. “We recognize the urgent need to promote clean, sustainable, fair, affordable and inclusive energy transitions…with a view to contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century,” the statement read. The leaders also called for increased financing mechanisms and international support to ensure developing nations can pursue these goals effectively.

The Bahamas’ inclusion in the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty represents a significant step forward in its efforts to build resilience and reduce socio-economic disparities. The Alliance, launched under Brazil’s G20 presidency and officially adopted by G20 nations in July 2024, is focused on achieving the first two Sustainable Development Goals — the eradication of poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2) — while also addressing inequalities (SDG 10). Since its inception, the Alliance has expanded successful national programs and fostered international cooperation through high-level summits and a champions council to guide its implementation.

Brazil has seen notable benefits from spearheading the initiative, including increased global recognition and strong support from leaders such as World Bank President Ajay Banga. The country has also used the platform to scale up its own social programs and promote the human right to nutritious food and dignified living conditions.

For The Bahamas, Davis emphasized that these partnerships will bring practical advantages: “For us, partnerships like these mean greater access to expertise and innovation — lowering costs for families, strengthening our resilience, and driving national development.”

The summit also addressed wider regional concerns, including the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Haiti. Leaders expressed “deep concern” over the multidimensional challenges facing the Haitian people and affirmed their commitment to supporting the country’s path to stability.                                                                                                                                                                        The participation of CARICOM leaders such as Guyanese President Irfaan Ali further underscored the importance of regional collaboration in meeting shared challenges. Discussions included scaling up investment for energy transition and disaster management infrastructure, areas of increasing urgency for climate-vulnerable Caribbean nations.

With its new commitments, The Bahamas joins a growing coalition of nations aligning development efforts with global best practices and collaborative frameworks. As climate risks intensify and inequality persists, these initiatives mark a shift toward proactive, cooperative strategies designed to safeguard the well-being of future generations.

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